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Hughes would have a vacancy for a fit and firing Sturridge after seeing his current stable of strikers struggle to regularly hit the net this season.

The Stoke boss declined to talk directly about Sturridge, but on signings in general acknowledged: “We’d like to if we could, but usually it’s the parent club that dictates that even more than the summer.

Danile Sturridge in his last appearance for Liverpool against Spartak Moscow on December 6 (Image: Getty)

“They may well be thinking that some of the players they have in their squad need to move on, but they would prefer to do it in the summer rather than January in case of injuries.

“That makes it even more difficult to get the ones you want out of the building.”

But he is optimistic that Stoke’s location in the heart of the country, and right next to a major motorway, could be a tick in their favour as it has been with plenty of other major signings in the recent past.

“We use that and we have used it in the past,” he continued. “You’ve got to use every means at your disposal and that plays a part in recruitment.

“We’ve got a good location here, so why wouldn’t you want to come here? That’s part of it these days. It is (also) about the football because we feel we’re a top-10 Premier League club and that resonates with players.

“Players look at us in a different light these days and would like to come here if they feel they’re not getting the games their talent deserves.”

On Ings, who has been linked with up to half-a-dozen Premier League clubs, Hughes played a straight bat by stating: "I think there's conversations about a lot of players."

Danny Ings... could be available on loan (Image: Getty)

He continued: "Some will be in regard to taking players on a permanent deal and there's always loan deals that can be done.

"We are well aware of who's available and who might become available, but nothing is definite as yet.

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"First I've heard of that," said Hughes. "It wouldn't surprise me with his performances that people have been impressed, but there would be no encouragement from us.

"Joe has been first class ever since he walked through the door and is enjoying his football, working hard for his team-mates and we enjoy watching him."

Ryan Shawcross faces two to three weeks out with a calf injury, but Hughes hoped to have Erik Pieters back in a Stoke City defence depleted by injury and the unavailability of Kurt Zouma at Chelsea today.